Freeware

The GIMP: A Decent Photoshop Replacement

By EAN ⋅ August 14, 2007 ⋅  Email this Post ⋅  Print this Post ⋅ Post a Comment

Developer: The GIMP Team
Version: 2.2.17
Price: Free
Download it Here.

I wrote yesterday about Photoshop [review], and those who read it will know that I love it - even though the price is completely unreasonable for the average user. Today brings us to a program that covers that one fault that I had with Photoshop. The GIMP, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, is just the program you need if you are looking for high quality, Photoshopesque, features without that hefty Adobe price tag weighing you down. It’s time to bring out the GIMP for a standalone review without trying compare it to Photoshop too much (that comes later in a battle between the two).

The GIMP has earned quite the repuatation for itself as a so-called Photoshop replacement. And it backs up that claim with a lot of features, most of which are completely useful at some point or another. As I said in my Photoshop review, I spend a lot of time editing pictures. That’s what I use image editing programs for as my primary task, although I do delve into graphic design and web design from time to time when I’m feeling particularly creative (or I have a deluge of free time). So, because my tasks on GIMP are so focused on just one particular portion of the whole art and design spectrum, I tend to rarely use most of the GIMP’s laundry list of features.

But what I do use the GIMP for, the GIMP works perfectly well. Dodge and burn tools are a must, as are the ability to manipulate layers. Along with brushes, the eraser tool, and a filter or tool to change brightness, contrast, and curves - I really don’t ask for too much from my image editor. And the GIMP has a tool that can accomplish each of those tasks with ease. While I do use other tools from time to time, those are just icing on the cake, so to speak.

Although GIMP does everything that I need it to do, there are a couple of real problems with it. The first is the user interface. The blocky design is not very streamlined and the tool panel tends to take up far too much space, getting in the way of the picture I am editing. This could easily be solved by making only two, maybe three columns of tools instead of the current six. This GUI issue is crippling to those on lower resolution monitors - especially those which are not wide screen.

The other problem is that GIMP is really only native to Linux. If I install it on Windows, I also have to have GTK+, the GIMP Toolkit. Even worse, if I want to install GIMP on Mac OSX, I have to install X11. And what a hassle that is. While I can easily deal with the Windows problem, having to install X11 (and getting GIMP to work with it) is a major pain in the ass. I’d go with no image editor on my Mac before I’d install GIMP. The GIMP does work fantastically on Linux and pretty good on Windows, though.

Do I recommend that you download the GIMP? Yes, if you are using Linux or Windows. Skip it on the Mac. And if you’ve become used to using Photoshop and you’re having a hard time getting used to the interface on GIMP, give Gimpshop a try - its user interface has been changed to look more like that of Adobe’s flagship image editory.

Try The GIMP for Yourself.

- Eric Norton